Forest Inventory and Analysis

2012-2016 Strategic Plan

Forest Inventory andAnalysis:

2012-2016 Strategic Plan

FIAStrategic planning

– Prior strategic plans : 2ond in 1993, third in 1999 as directed in Farm Bill, fourth in 2007.

– Currently FIA’s 5th strategic plan provides an overview of the program’s approach to addressing the 2012 draft Farm Bill , client feedback and program vision for the future.

– FIA publishes an Annual Business Report to inform Congress, partners and public of progress toward the strategic goals of the program.

Original Plan• Build a structured series of

meetings around focus topics based on input from regional user meetings

West 1Portland OR

East 1St Paul MN

Possible Strategic Focus Topics Discussion Locations

Focus Merge and National AssessmentsWashington DC

West 2Salt Lake City UT

East 2Atlanta GA

Changes; budget uncertainty, travel

costs•Program articulate vision for future•Proceed based on input from– Draft Farm Bill – Regional user meetings– National user meetings – Survey of users

Draft Farm Bill

• Draft Farm Bill – Interior Alaska, remote sensing, urban, biomass,

analytical capacity and collaboration• NASF Resolution No. 2009-6: Forest Inventory &

Analysis (FIA) Program Funding and Priorities– Remote sensing for land use change, analytical capacity,

biomass• NASF Letter: Waxman/Whitehouse - NASF

Comments on Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change (March 1, 2013)

Regional User Meetings Summary• Program flexibility is crucial• Transparency is needed• Responsiveness to client

input• “Last strategic plan was

lacking strategy, was mostly boiler plate and reaction to farm bill language. Should be looking toward future.”

National FIA Users Meetings• In response to budget

– Increase cycle length. Do not reduce plots or change basic design

– Create flexibility• Timber Product Output Program – – Enhance value for economic

development and modeling (i.e. annual TPO system compatibility)

• Estimation Issues– Biomass, Trend detection, short term

projections, GRM by diameter class,

5-Year Strategic Plan

• Solidify the Base Program• Enhance delivery of the

Base Program• Expand the Base Program• Accommodate Flexibility in

the Base Program

Solidify the Base Program

• Inventory Interior Alaska• Fully Develop Non-plot

mission–Timber Product Output–National Woodland Owner

Survey–Forest Carbon Accounting

• Page 3 Draft strategic plan

Enhance the Base Program•New Technology – remote

sensing for mapping and geospatial analysis•Enhancing partnerships– NFS Partnership; NIMAC & intensification– Increased analytical capability– Improved techniques research

» Small area estimation– Training

Expand the Base Program

• Require additional funding• Responds to vision of

eventually (long term) expanding to all vegetated lands

• Idea of starting with urban lands as funding becomes available– Urban-wildland interface– Land use change

Flexibility in the Base Program• Maximize service within

existing funding by streamlining and adding flexibilitiy– Core data continuing evaluation– Redesign national database– Eliminate duplication in

Information Management– Create flexibility in forest health

measurements while retaining a national core set of indicators

User Survey Summary

• The importance of new focus areas of biomass, carbon, fuel loading and improved remote sensing.

• All technical aspects need continued improvement (mapping, precision, QA…..)

• Do not compromise base program• All clients interests need to be heard

in the Strategic Planning process.

Response to key issues in Q &A

• Vision for the future and budget strategy need to be articulated,

• Urban forestry should not compromise base, questions about design

• Forest Health direction needs client participation and review

• TPO direction needs clarification• Map based estimates, small area

estimation

Next Steps• Discussion of draft at this

meeting• Incorporate today’s input into

draft based as needed• Incorporate comments from

other key stakeholders • Washington office briefings and

discussions with USFS leadership

Next Steps

• Farm Bill will be incorporated if passed before publication date

• Other steps as identified• Develop final draft • Final version target date -

June 2013

Questions?